After the death of the seven brothers of Atlas, several nuns from different monasteries came forward as volunteers to carry on their witness in Islam territory.  Our community of Klaarland agreed to be the founding house for this group, which was invited to settle in Tunisia.

 

            It is not really necessary to present this pre-foundation project to the General Chapters, seeing that they do not have to give their opinion on the subject.  However, as the project figured in the programme of the abbesses’ Chapter and was then withdrawn, it would seem desirable to give some information about it.  This will give some clarification to the persons who wish it and enable us to respond to the questions put to us.

 

            The main reason why the foundation cannot be established in Tunisia is on the level of collaboration with the local Bishop.  This, or rather the lack of freedom and effective collaboration, puts at risk the autonomy necessary for an authentic monastic life.  These difficulties have been obvious for quite a long time, but it was only a month ago that we were obliged to take the definite decision to withdraw from this plan for the foundation.  At that time we felt we had really exhausted every means of remedying the situation.

 

            Although our initial aim was to establish a small community in Maghreb itself, in fidelity to and in line with the witness of our seven Brothers of Atlas, we then turned to Morocco, where there did seem to be some hope of a possible settlement.  But this turned out to be ill founded and it is clear that it is not the right moment to insist, since the matter is not really ripe for the local church.

 

            Since the Central Commissions’ meeting at Latroun, a pressing invitation has been given us to form a new nucleus of Cistercian life in Lebanon.

           

            So this is the project we are now considering, and this General Chapter is a unique occasion to obtain the necessary information and contacts.  Lebanon offers us the opportunity to insert ourselves into a population that is Islamic, at least by a small majority.  Another great advantage of this project is that we would be more or less certain of recruiting monastic vocations.